Drones, due process, and upholding dignity

By Fr Stephan Alexander

General Manager, CCSJ and AMMR

Recent news of US drone strikes in the Caribbean may feel like something distant—decisions made in Washington, carried out far above our heads. Yet these events are not far away at all. They unfolded in our region, and their echoes are already being felt in Trinidad and Tobago, Venezuela, and beyond.

The Government of Trinidad and Tobago, along with other CARICOM nations, voiced support for the US approach, calling it a step in the fight against transnational crime.

Venezuela, on the other hand, responded by deploying troops to its borders. These actions remind us how quickly decisions can escalate tensions and affect our region’s stability.

We all know the weight of crime and violence in our country. Families live in fear, communities mourn loved ones, and leaders are pressed to act firmly. It is natural to want strong responses. But here lies the danger: in the name of getting “tough on crime,” shortcuts are often taken.

We have seen this before. Reports of police killings spark cries for justice, but investigations drag on or sometimes never appear. The explanation given is often blunt: “They were criminals.” But who decides that?

Without proper trials, without independent oversight, how can we be sure? When the State claims the right to end a life without full accountability, it risks eroding trust in the very justice system meant to protect us all.

The drone strikes raise the same warning on a bigger scale. If powerful nations begin to normalise killing without trial, smaller nations may feel justified in doing the same.

And when our own government lends its support to such actions, we must ask ourselves: are we standing for what is right, or for what is convenient? What standards do we accept when governments use lethal force? And how can we, as people of faith, ensure that the dignity of every person is upheld?

Accountability does not weaken the fight against crime—it strengthens it. Evangelium Vitae (EV) reminds us that the dignity of the person shines most clearly when the inviolability of life is safeguarded (EV 2). Upholding due process and protecting human rights is not about defending criminals; it is about defending the God-given dignity that belongs to every human being.

As Christians, we cannot remain silent. The gospel calls us to “speak the truth in love” (Eph 4:15). Silence in the face of injustice is never neutral; it is a choice. Our faith requires us to defend human dignity, even when it is unpopular.

Here at home, that means asking hard questions of our leaders. It means insisting on transparency when the police or the military uses force. It means refusing the easy answers of vengeance and demanding the harder, nobler path of justice.

Pope Francis warned in Fratelli Tutti (FT) that human dignity is too often judged by convenience, especially when powerful interests are at play (FT 25). If we as a people accept that, then dignity becomes negotiable. And when dignity becomes negotiable, the poor, migrants, and the marginalised are the first to lose.

Advocacy is not just about laws and policies. It is also about culture. We must raise our children to know that justice is not revenge. We must show our young people that fairness comes from due process, not from force or intimidation. Otherwise, we risk passing on a culture where “might is right” and the weak are discarded.

Venezuela’s deployment of troops is a clear reminder: actions have consequences. Supporting extrajudicial tactics may appear to bring security in the short term, but it fuels mistrust and increases the chance of conflict. For a region that has long prided itself on being a “zone of peace,” this is a dangerous path.

Small nations like ours do not have military might to rely on. What we do have is moral voice. The Caribbean has often led the way in standing for peace and law on the world stage.

Peace, however, is not simply the absence of war; it is the fruit of justice. If we want to defend peace, we must protect accountability for both the powerful and the weak.

The Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church (CSDC) says clearly: “The State has the duty to guarantee the rights of all and in particular of its weakest members” (CSDC 166). If that duty is abandoned, then the weakest, the poor, the accused, the migrant, the voiceless, will be the first to suffer. This is not a distant concern. It is a Caribbean concern. It is our concern.

Jesus tells us, “The truth will set you free” (Jn 8:32). Where there is secrecy or impunity, fear grows. But where truth and accountability prevail, freedom and trust flourish.

The debate over drone strikes gives us a chance to reflect: will we, here in Trinidad and Tobago, strengthen accountability in our own house? Will we support international actions without considering the moral cost? Or will we claim our place as a moral voice in the Caribbean, defending life, dignity, and justice for all?

As disciples of Christ, the answer is clear. We are called to be a people of justice, a people who speak truth in love, a people who uphold dignity without compromise. May our voices and actions help shape a Caribbean that values not just security, but true justice for all.

The CCSJ asks for your support. Please donate:

Catholic Commission for Social Justice

Account #: 290 458 025 501

Bank: Republic Bank Ltd. Or you can contact us at:

admin.ccsj@catholictt.org